liaison

/liˈeɪzn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈliːəzɑːn/ (ame, ipa) · /lē-ˈā-ˌzän ˈlē-ə-ˌzän nonstandard ˈlā-ə-/ (ame, mw)

liaison — noun

  • liaisonsingular
  • liaisonsplural

1. ongoing communication and exchange of information between groups, departments, o

1.名詞B2
釋義

ongoing communication and exchange of information between groups, departments, or organizations that need to work together effectively

例句

Close liaison between the design and engineering teams helped the project finish ahead of schedule.

collocation: close liaison + between X and Y

The hospital improved patient outcomes through better liaison with local clinics and pharmacies.

liaison + with + institution

同義詞
  • coordination

    focuses on arranging activities to work together; slightly more active

  • cooperation

    emphasises willingness to work together rather than the communication channel itself

  • communication

    broader term; does not imply joint effort or shared goals

反義詞

文法句型

liaison between X and Y

liaison with X

用法筆記

Frequently uncountable. Typically used with an adjective (close, effective, regular) and a prepositional phrase (between X and Y, with Y, among X).

常見錯誤

❌We need more liaison with each department heads.
✅We need better liaison with each department head.
💡'liaison' is uncountable in this sense; avoid plural 'liaisons' and use an adjective like 'better' or 'closer'.
❌The liaison between the groups were good.
✅The liaison between the groups was good.
💡takes a singular verb even when referring to multiple parties.

2. an individual appointed to ensure smooth information sharing and coordinated eff

2.名詞B2
釋義

an individual appointed to ensure smooth information sharing and coordinated effort between different groups or organisations

例句

Kofi was appointed the project liaison between the construction company and the city council.

appoint + person + as + liaison + between X and Y

The school hired a community liaison to help immigrant families understand the education system.

同義詞
  • contact person

    more informal; does not imply an official coordination role

  • go-between

    focuses on passing messages; can be informal or disapproving

  • intermediary

    suggests formal negotiation or mediation between opposing sides

  • representative

    broader; speaks or acts on behalf of one group rather than bridging two

文法句型

act as liaison + between X and Y

serve as + noun

appoint + noun

用法筆記

Countable. Often preceded by a determiner (a, the, our) or used in job titles (company liaison, community liaison). The related verb liaise (B2) is more common in everyday professional speech.

常見錯誤

❌He is liaison of the two teams.
✅He is the liaison between the two teams.
💡use 'the' before 'liaison' and 'between' (not 'of').
❌She liaisons the departments.
✅She liaises between the departments.
💡the verb is 'liaise' not 'liaison', and it takes 'between'.

3. a romantic or sexual relationship conducted in secret, usually because at least

3.名詞C1
釋義

a romantic or sexual relationship conducted in secret, usually because at least one of the people involved is already committed to another person

例句

The newspaper revealed details of the senator's liaison with a former staff member.

register: formal journalistic use

Their secret liaison continued for several years before anyone in the family suspected it.

同義詞
  • affair

    more common in everyday language; can suggest ongoing emotional involvement

  • romance

    broader; does not necessarily imply secrecy or commitment elsewhere

文法句型

possessive + liaison + with + person

用法筆記

This sense is formal and often carries a judgemental or disapproving tone. In everyday conversation, 'affair' is much more common. Use 'liaison' primarily in formal writing (news reports, historical accounts, literature).

常見錯誤

❌They had a liaison last night.
✅They had an affair / a romantic encounter.
💡using 'liaison' for casual sexual encounters sounds unnatural outside formal or literary contexts.

4. the speech pattern in which a normally silent final consonant is pronounced and

4.名詞C2
釋義

the speech pattern in which a normally silent final consonant is pronounced and connected to the following word when that word opens with a vowel

例句

In spoken French, liaison makes the final consonant of 'les' audible before a vowel.

liaison + in + language (French example)

English speakers use a linking r, a form of liaison, when saying 'far away' aloud.

同義詞
  • sound linking

    more descriptive and intuitive for non-specialists

  • connected speech

    broader term covering all sound changes in fluent speech, not just consonant-to-vowel linking

文法句型

liaison + between + sounds

liaison + consonant

liaison + rule

用法筆記

A technical term in phonology. Most relevant to learners of French. In English, the phenomenon exists (linking r, intrusive r, consonant-to-vowel linking) but is rarely called 'liaison' outside linguistics textbooks.

常見錯誤

❌English has liaison like French.
✅English has similar sound-linking patterns, but the rules are different from French liaison.
💡learners often assume the same rules apply across languages.